I heard this information today and I wanted to share it with you. Giving birth, especially the first time can be stressful because you don’t 100% know what to expect or how your body and baby are going to respond when labor begins. This is also true with subsequent births because no birth experience is the same.
But, right now in light of world events, giving birth in a hospital or birth center looks different. There are added precautions and PPE policies in place. Along with, the limited number of visitors you can have present.
Every hospital and birth center is different, but I think it is important to make informed decisions about you and your baby's care and to make an informed decision we must have information.
What to Expect
They may test you and you husband, spouse, birth coach, etc. for COVID-19. If you happen to test positive whether symptomatic or not, you will be separated from your baby after giving birth for possibly up to 10 days and it will be recommended to you that you do not breastfeed your baby due to the potential risk of exposure to your baby.
If your spouse, significant other, or your 1 visitor you are allowed, tests positive for COVID-19 they are asked to leave. Therefore, you give birth alone.
I have so many feelings about this right now. I am still working through all my thoughts.
This would be a traumatic experience.
Being separated from your baby
Giving birth alone
Not breastfeeding your baby like you hoped you would.
Now I understand if the mother or support person is symptomatic to have advanced precautions, but not allowing you to be with your baby or breastfeed when you are asymptomatic is distressing to me. I say this because this makes me sad to think about being separated from your baby or not having any visitors to help support you during this time.
Research
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to support either decision, to separate or not or breastfeed or not. We don’t know enough about this virus to make this determination. Typically, if someone has influenza they are still able to breastfeed, but there are so many unknowns with COVID-19 that there is no way to make a hard and fast rule. And we do know, there is support for babies to get antibodies through breastfeeding and this helps support the immune system.
So… what to do with this information.
If your support person tests positive: if you can, have a “back-up” person available to be your 1 visitor.
It is within your rights to decline the separation of your baby and you can advocate breastfeeding your baby.
They may have options to have your baby in the room, just 6 feet away.
Or if you do decide to breastfeed wearing PPE and use good hand hygiene.
You can follow the hospital, doctor, or birth center recommendations for separation and not to breastfeed. To protect your baby potentially from COVID-19.
Discuss with your provider and the hospital or birth center what their policies or procedures are specific to their facility. Their recommendations for care and what all your options would be. This way you don’t go into it blindsided, while already stressed and have to make a decision you were not prepared for.
Be flexible with your birth plan. Births do not always go as expected so it would be beneficial to have some flexibility in what labor and the birth will look like
There is no judgement or right or wrong answers to whatever you decide.
My youngest was born 3 years ago and I can’t imagine what it would be like being pregnant or giving birth during this time. I’m praying for all the moms and families right now in these situations.
With care,
Alison
Alison is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Colorado. She specializes in maternal mental health, specifically perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Reach out if you or a loved one are needing additional support or counseling during this time by calling 970-795-2100